The family of a former Rover worker have won their five-year battle to prove he died from dehydration on a hospital ward.

For the relatives of Stan Mack, the ruling following a six-day Birmingham inquest means they can finally mourn for the 77-year-old who lost his life on a specialist Clostridium difficile (C-diff) ward at Selly Oak Hospital.

Son Ian said the tragedy had robbed mum Carol, a retired clinical psychologist, of precious twilight years with her husband of four decades.

Managing director Ian said: “Dad went into hospital the week my mum retired, so she had one week of her retirement with him, which is an appallingly cruel thing.

“They were looking forward to a long and happy retirement together. I think it’s grossly unfair.

“He didn’t need to die and could have lived many years longer. What happened could have been averted.”

An initial inquest into Stan’s death was quashed last year by the Court of Appeal, leading to a second inquiry in front of a jury.

Mr Mack was admitted to Selly Oak in early June, 2008, with a suspected chest infection. It later emerged he was suffering from the C-diff bug.

Carol Mack ans son Ian holding a picture of her husband Stanley Mack.

Stan’s family claimed his condition was not treated properly by staff who made a string of basic errors. Returning a narrative verdict, the jury agreed with claims medical staff on Ward B4 failed to adequately monitor Stan’s fluid and hydration levels and that basic observations were not carried out.

Doses of vital drugs were also missed and IV fluids, ordered by a doctor, were not administered.

The jury stated inadequate nursing notes meant staff failed to spot Stan was acutely ill in the days leading to his death, on July 25, 2008, when he inhaled vomit, triggering a cardiac arrest.

Ian added: “Vindicated is exactly the word for how we feel. We knew all along something had gone terribly wrong in the hospital.

“Our principal thoughts are with the jury who heard a lot of complicated and conflicting evidence and they cut through all of that to get to the right answer.

“They found dehydration led to dad’s death which the hospital have consistently denied.”

A statement, issued by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust after the inquest said: “The Trust would like to extend its condolences to the family and friends of Mr Stanley Mack who died at Selly Oak Hospital on June 25, 2008, aged 77.

“The Trust fully accepts the findings of the inquest and can assure patients and their families that very significant improvements have been made in the care delivered to our patients in the intervening years.”